Block system developing machine



July 21, 1936. v. c. 01-: YBARRONDO BLOCK SYSTEM bEVELOPING MACHINEFiled Nov. 11, 1929 y E a Rr H M r 0 p 2% n [w 7 mm 1 y M 1m Z I 2 2 4fi a ,2 M w Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor toPaton, Inc., Los poration of California Calif., a cor- ApplicationNovember 11, 1929, Serial a... 400,252

29 Claims.

My invention relates to film handling apparatus which may be employed tocarry film through the various processes employed in the productionveloping the washing solutions and through dry-- ing chambers. In orderto reduce operating costs to a minimum, much attention has been latelydirected to machines for continuously handling the film so as to carrysuch film through the various steps or processes to which it must besub- Jected, with a minimum handling of the film, and machines have beendeveloped which will carry a film continuously through various steps ofa process by means of sprockets or similar devices; but such machinesare found to have very marked disadvantages, among which are loss ofvaluable film and loss of time resulting from the v breaking of the filmwithin the automatic, continuously operating handling equipment.

It is an object of my invention to provide a film handling device havingparts so relatively movable that the stress placed upon a film carriedtherethrough cannot exceed a predetermined maximum.

A further object of the invention is to provide handling equipment whichwill automatically compensate in its operation for the variation inlength of a strip of film dueto contraction and elongation. q

A further object of the invention is to provide a-device which willautomatically shut down ing adjacent portions of film which have be-'come injured in the machine as a direct result of the film breaking.

K furtherobject of the invention is to provide' a film handling devicewhich isextremely simple to operate and which may be operated by asingle attendant.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be madeevidentthroughout the follow:

ing part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing which is for'illustrative purposes only,

m. 1 a a partly sectioned diagrammatic ele- (Cl. Til-2.8)

vatlonal view showing in simple manner the essential features of myinvention. a

Fig. 2 is a section on a plane represented by the line 2-4 of Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail showing 5 the shaft and pulleyconstruction of the automatic controlling mechanism.

v This film handling apparatus is adapted for the carrying of continuousstrips of film or continuous strips of other materials through con- 1tainers, treatment chambers, etc., wherein one or more steps of theprocess or treatment are performed on the strips. For the purpose ofsimplicity in disclosing'the invention, I show my improved film handlingapparatus inconiunction with a vat or tank i I having a liquid thereinthrough which a strip of film is to be carried, such liquid being adeveloping, compound, fixing compound, washing compound, or film coatingsolution, 'as may be required in the carrying out of a film treatingprocess. Mounted in the vat II are a plurality of slide members I! eachconsisting of a pair of vertical bars ll, these bars serving as slidesor guides for upper and lower blocks l4 and II which maybe preferablyequipped with rollers II to minimize friction in the engagement of theblocks I4 and I! with the slide members If. The lower endsof thevertical rods or bars It may be secured by means of base plates II, andthe upper ends of the pairs of bars ll may be tied together by a crossbar I.

The term "blocks" is employed with reference to the members It and II toindicate a movable member or frame having a plurality of rollers orpulleys mounted therein. Therefore, each of the blocks l4 and IIconsists of a frame member 2| having rollers ll mounted thereon and alateral shaft if carrying :freely rotatable fianged rollers 13, theflanges of therollers being intended for the purpose of guiding the filmas it passes over 4 the rollers.

- I 'roma film spool ll carriedbyabracketil, afilm 20 is conducted overa propelling means consisting of a pulley, this film being from thencecarried, as indicated by an arrow ll, to the first filmhandling unit flconsisting of the first cooperating pair of blocks I4 and IS, the filmfl being carried inconsecutive loops ill over the rollers of the upperand lower blocks l4 and ll. From the unit II the film: is carried, as

indicated at II, over a second or secondary prop lling means consistingof a pulley if to a second film handling unit 08- in which the film iscarried in the form of loops It over the upper and lower rollers 28supported respectively by the upper and lower blocks I4 and I5. The film25 may be in this manner carried continuously to any number ofsucceeding film handling units which will cooperate to produce thevaluable results set forth in the objects. Therefore, in accordance withthe foregoing, the film may be directed from the unit 33, as indicatedat 34, over a secondary propelling means or pulley 35. to a filmhandling unit 35 which is substantially identical to the units 23 and33. From the film handling unit 35 the film is carried over a pulley .31and, as indicated by an arrow 38, may be directed to any desired pointof disposal.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper blocks I4 are each adiustably supported inthe slides I2 by cords 40 which extend over pulleys 4|, it beingpossible to raise or lower the upper blocks I4 as desired. The lowerblocks I5 are each counterbalanced or partly counterbalanced by a weight43 which is connected to the block I5 by means of a cable or cord 44extended over a pulley 45 rigidly mounted on a shaft 45 so that theshaft 45 will be caused to rotate with the pulley 45. As shown in Fig.3, the shaft 45 may be mounted in bearing brackets 47 and has a drum 48mounted thereon which carries a rope or cable 43, the cable 49 beingwound on the drum 48 in an anticlockwise direction and extending down toand being connected to the movable electrode 5| of a liquid typevariable resistor or rheostat 52.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the counterweight 43 and rheostat 52, with theirassociated parts, in connection with the final film handling unit 35,but it is to be understood that each film handling unit 23 and 33 isprovided with similar apparatus.

When a film is to be started or initially looped through the filmhandling equipment, the upper and lower blocks I4 and I5 are raised intheir respective slides I2 to positions above the level of liquid 53 inthe vat II, each lower block I5 being positioned adjacent to itscooperating upper block I4, making it possible for the attendant toreadily thread the leading end of a film or a leader strip, over therollers 23 and pulleys 21, 32, 35, and 31 in their proper consecutiveorder. It will be perceived that when a lower block I5 is raised, thecable 44 extending to the counterweight 43 will move so as to rotate theshaft 45 in right-hand or clockwise direction, thus causing the cable 43to wind on the spool or drum 43 and lift the movable electrode 5| fromthe electrolyte 54 of the rheostat 52, thereby increasing to a maximumthe resistance of the rheostat 52 and reducing to aminimum the strengthof current which will fiow through the motor circuits 55 which extend tosecondary motors 55 by which the pulleys 32, 35; and 31 are driven. Asshown in Fig. 2, each motor 55 is mounted on a bracket 51 in a positionto drive a gear 53 carried by a shaft 53, this gear 55 beingfrictionally mounted on the shaft and being adapted to drive the shaft53 through a friction power transmitting. means or clutch,diagrammatically indicated at 55. The rightwardly or outwardlyprojecting end ofeach shaft 53 has a pulley 32, 35, or .31 mountedthereon and may also be provided with a sprocket 52 and may be adaptedto be engaged by a handle such as indicated at 53. The primary orinitial propelling pulley 21 is driven by a motor 54 energized through acircuit 55 adapted to be closed by a magnetic drop switch 55 and havinga rheostat 51 therein for controlling the speed of the motor. Therheostat 51 is set for a normal or desired advance of the film 25. i

As previously described, the film is initially wound on the units 23,33, and 35 with the blocks I5 in raised position, with the result thatwhen the circuits to the various motors 64 and 55 are closed, the.motors 55 will be rotating at a relatively low speed, if at all, withthe following result: The pulley 21 rotating at a normal rate of speedwill feed the film in the direction of the arrow 28 ,to the first filmhandling unit 23 at a speed considerably greater than that at which thepulley 32 is pulling a film from the unit 23. The length of the film inthe unit 23 will increase, thus permitting the lengths of the loops 35to increase and the lower block I5 to move downwardly in the slidemember I2 thereof, carrying the film into the liquid 53. As the lowerblock I5 approaches the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, therheostat associated therewith will'be operated to lower the electrode 5|in or into ,the electrolyte 54 to turn pn or increase the currentdelivered to the motor 55 which drives the secondary pulley 32, therebyincreasing the speed at which the film is taken oIf'at 3| from thehandling unit 23, the block I5 of the unit 23 continuing to lower untilthe speed of the pulley 32 is sufiicient to remove the film from theunit 23 as fast as the pulley 21 is delivering film thereto. At thistime the length of film Inthe unit 23 will remain substantiallyconstant, and the position of the lower block I5 of the unit 29 willremain substantially constant.

When the unit 23 has expanded due to the feeding of the film therelnto,as previously described, and its lower block I5 has been brought to astationary position adjacent to the lower end of the vat II, the motor55 drivingthe pulley 32 will cause film to be fed into the second filmhandling unit 33, and this second film handling unit will expand bydownward movement of its lower block- I5 in a manner identical to thatexplained relative to the unit23. When the unit 33 has become filled orexpanded, the film will be carried through the units 23 and 33 into theunit 35 which in turn will expand in the manner previously de scribed.

Each secondary motor 55 is controlled in speed in accordance with thesize of .the film handling unit lying adjacent thereto; therefore, allof the units 23, 33, and 35 are automatically kept at a desiredcondition of expansion, and it will be recognized that the handlingequipment may be worked either forwardly or rearwardly.

Should the film break in any of the units 23, 33, or 35, the lower blockI5 of the unit in which the break occurs will immediately drop from itsnormal position of operation, with the result of raising its associatedcounterweight 43 and carrying a. body I5 upwardly against the upper legI5 of a switch II forming part of a circuit" which extends to theholding magnet I3 of the dropswitch 55 which is adapted to close thepower circult of the motor 54. The breaking of the circuit I3 causesde-energization of the magnet I3 so that the drop arm 3| of the switch55 will be Cit thereby released so as to drop down and produce V an opencondition of the switch 55, thus immediately stopping the motor 54 so asto stop the feed, ing of the film in the direction of the arrow 25 intothe first film handling unit 23 which will then shorten and raise itslower block I5, there being an accompanying operation of the rheostatconnected with the motor 55 by which the pulley 32 is driven to shut offthe current to the motor which drives the pulley 32. Each of the motors55 will be shut down in this manner.

It is also intended In the practice of my invenbreakage of the filmoccur in any of the film of the strand, represented by the film 28,extend handling units.

This new film handling device has very marked advantages over the oldtypes of automatic film handling equipment. The tension which may beexerted on any portion oflthe film is determined by the efiective weightof each lower block I, it being recognized that part of the'weight ofeach block is counterbalanced by a counterbalance weight 43. The actualstress which may be placed on the film is therefore determined solelyfrom the force applied to relatively separate the,

pair of upper and lower blocks of each film handling unit. 4

- The rollers 23 are individually turnable so that the rotation of oneroller does not control the rotation of another; therefore, it isimpossible for contraction of the film at any point throughout itslength to produce a breaking strain, as such contraction will beimmediately compensated for by the turning of the rollers 23 andmovement of the lower blocks l5. Breakage of the film does not result ina loss of film due to piling up of the film within the machine for thereason that any breakage immediately produces a stopping of theequipment. The film may be very easily threaded through the machine withthe blocks in raised position, or a leader may be threaded into themachine while the blocks are in raised position, these blocks beinglowered as the machine is entirely threaded.

If desired, the upper block may be lowered to entirely submerge theloops 30 carried thereby in the liquid of the vat ll. Each unit 29, 33,or 36 is in the form of a block and tackle through which a strand isbeing continuously moved. Both ends to a motor whereby to accomplish adesired movement of the strand through the blocks or in and 4 out of theblocks.

The rheostat 52 may be designed to shut off completely or nearlycompletely, as may be desired in the practice of the invention. In Fig.1, I have shown the electrode 5| adapted to be raised from theelectrolyte 54 so as to completely open the circuit 55 to acorresponding secondary motor 56, but is will be recognized that therheostat may be so designed that it will operate to reduce the speed ofthe motor 56 to a very small rate.

The drum 48 is resiliently and adjustably mounted on the shaft 46 bymeans of a block 90 which is secured on the shaft by means of a setscrew 9|. To cause the drum 48 to turn with the block 80, a connectingmeans in the form of a spring 02 is employed, this spring having itsends connected respectively to the drum 48 and the member 90. To changethe position of the electrode 5| so that it will engage the electrolyte54 when the movable member I5 is in, a different position from theoperating position shown in the drawing, the set screw 9| may bereleased so as to permit rotation of the drum 48 relative to the shaftwhereby to wind or unwind the cable 49 while the member 45 and the cable44 remain stationary.

Although I have herein shown and described a simple and practical formatmy invention, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereofare representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may beemployed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantiallythe same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but shall have thescope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

- l. A film handling device of the character described, including: apair of cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocksfor corelative movement, there being a force application tending toseparate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which afilm may be carried in loops; means for directing said film to a rollerof said blocks; and means for taking said film from a roller of saidblocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocks bysaid force application.

' 2. Afilm handling device of the character described, including: a pairof cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks forcorelative movement, there being a force applica tion tending toseparate said blocks; a plurality I of rollers on each block over whicha film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the 3. Afilm handling device of the character described, including: a pair ofcooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks forcorelative movement, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film maybe carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation ofsaid blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent tosaid blocks; and means actuated in consequence of co-relative movementof said blocks for controlling saidpropelling means in a manner topreserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

4. A film handling device of the character described, including: anupper block; a lower block; means for vertically slidably supportingsaid blocks for co-relative movement, there being a force applicationtending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each blockover which a film may be carried in loops; means for directing said filmto a roller of said blocks; and means for taking said film from a rollerof said blocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of saidblocks by said force application.

5. A film handling device of the character described, including: anupper block; a lower block;

'means for vertically slidably supporting said blocks for co-relativemovement, there being a force application tending to separate saidblocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film may becarried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation of saidblocks; and propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent tosaid blocks, said propelling means being controlled in accordance withthe co-relative movement'of said blocks.

6. A film handling device of the character described, including': anupper block; a lower block; means for vertically slidably supportingsaid blocks for co-relative movement, there being a force applicationtending to separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on. each blockover whicha film may be carried in loops, said loops of film controllingthe separation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at apoint adjacent to said blocks; and means actuated in consequence ofco-relative movement of said blocks for controlling said propellingmeans in a manner to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

7. A film handling device of the character described, including: anupper block a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks invertical positions, there being a force application tending to move saidlower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desiredstationary position; aplurality of rollers on each block over which afilm may be carried in loops; means for directing said film to a rollerof said blocks; and means for taking said film from a roller ofsaidblocks, said loops of film controlling the separation of said blocksby said force application.

8. A film handling device of the character described, including: anupper block; a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks invertical positions, there being a force application tending to move saidlower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desiredstationary position; a plurality of rollers on each block over which afilm may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling theseparation of said blocks; and propelling means engaging said film at apoint adjacent to said blocks, said propelling means being controlled inaccordance with the co-relative movement of said blocks.

9. A film handling device of the character described, including: anupper block; a lower block; means for slidably supporting said blocks invertical positions, there being a force application tending to move saidlower block downwardly; means for securing said upper block in a desiredstationary position; a plurality of rollers on each block over which afilm may be carried in loops, said loops of film controlling theseparation of said blocks; propelling means engaging said film at apoint adjacent to said blocks; and means actuated in consequence ofco-relative movement of said blocks for controlling said, propellingmeans in a manner 'to preserve a predetermined separation of saidblocks.

10. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pairof cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks forcorelative movement, there being a force application tendingto separatesaid blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film maybe carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation ofsaid blocks; propelling means engaging said film at a point adjacent tosaid blocks, said propelling means being controlled in accordance withthe co-relative movement of said blocks; and means for stopping saidpropelling means consequent upon the separation of said blocks in excessof a given dimension. 7

11. A film handling device of the character described, including: a pairof cooperating blocks; means for slidably supporting said blocks forcorelative movement, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a plurality of rollers on each block over which a film maybe carried in loops, said loops of film controlling the separation ofsaid blocks; propelling means engaging said film'at a point adjacent tosaid blocks; means actuated in consequence of corelative movement ofsaid blocks for controlling said'propelling means in a manner topreserve a predetermined separation oi. said blocks; and

means for stopping said propelling means consequent upon the separationof said blocks in excess of a given dimension.

12. A film handling device of at character described, including: aplurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported byeach of said slides, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a'plurality oi rollers on each of said blocks over which afilm may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted fromone pair of cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devicesengaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; andmeans actuating in consequence of co-relative movement of said blocksfor controlling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve apredetermined separation of said blocks.

13. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported byeach of said slides, each pair of cooperating blocks consisting of anupper block and a lower block, there being a force application tendingto separate said blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocksover which a film may be carried in the form of loops, such film beingconducted from one pair of cooperating blocks to another; filmpropelling devices engaging said film adjacent to said pairs ofcooperating blocks; and means actuating in consequence of co-relativemovement of said blocks for controlling the speed of said propellingdevices so as to preserve a predetermined separation of said blocks.

14. A film handling device 0! the character described, including: aplurality of slides; a pair oi cooperating blocks slidably supported byeach of said slides, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a plurality oi rollers on each of said blocks over which afilm may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted fromone pair of cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devicesengaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; meansactuating in consequence oi. co-relative movement oi. said blocks forcontrolling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve apredetermined separation of said blocks; and auxiliary means actuated inresponse to relative movement of said cooperating pairs of blocks intopredetermined positions of separation for stopping one of saidpropelling devices when said film breaks.

15. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported byeach of said slides, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocks over which afilm may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted fromone pair '01 cooperating blocks to another; film propelling devicesengaging said film adjacent to said pairs of cooperating blocks; meansactuating in consequence oi co-relative movement of said blocks forcontrolling the speed of said propelling devices so as to preserve apredetermined separation of said blocks; and auxiliary means actuated inresponse to relative movement of said cooperating pairs of blocks intopredetermined positions of separation for stopping the first of saidpropelling devices when said film breaks.

16. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of slides; a pair of cooperating blocks slidably supported byeach of said slides, there being a force application tending to separatesaid blocks; a plurality of rollers on each of said blocks over which afilm may be carried in the form of loops, such film being conducted fromone pair or cooperating blocks to another; a primary propelling devicefor ieeding said film to the first of said pairs of cooperating blocks;secondary film propelling device engaging said film intermediate each ofsaid pairs of cooperating blocks; means actuating in consequence ofrelative movement of saidblocks in said slides for controlling the speed01' said secondary propelling devices so as to preserve a predeterminedseparation of said pairs of cooperating blocks; and auxiliary means forstopping said primary propelling means in event of breakage of saidfilm.

17. A film'handling device of the character described, including: wallsforming a film treating zone; a plurality of expansible film receivingmembers in said film treating zone; a primary propelling device forfeeding a film to the first of said members, said'film being carriedfrom one expansible member, to another; secondary propelling devicesengaging said film so as to feed same into succeeding of said expansiblemembers; and means controlling the operation of said secondarypropelling devices in a manner to maintain a desired expansion of saidexpansible members.

18. A film handling device of the character described including: aplurality of expansiblefilm receiving members; film feeding means forfeeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a filmmotivating means for each of said film receiving members, for takingsaid film from said film receiving members, means controlled by theexpansion of said expansible members for determining the speed of saidmotivating means so that the speed of said motivating means willincrease when said film receiving members expand beyond apredetermined'point and will decrease when said film receiving memberscontract within said predetermined point; and means for varying thepredetermined points of expansion of said film receiving members.

19. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means forfeeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a filmmotivating means for each of said film receiving members, for takingsaid film from said film receiving members; variable speed motors fordriving said motivating means; and means controlled by the expansion ofsaid expansible members for gradually increasing or decreasing the speedof said motors so that the speed of said motivating means will increasewhen said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined point andwill decrease when said film receiving members contract withinsaidpredetermined point.

20. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means forfeeding a film into the first of saidfilm receiving members; a filmmotivating means for each of said film receiving members, for takingsaid film from said film receiving members; means controlled by theexpansion of said expansible'members for determining the speed of saidmotivating means so that the speed of said motivating means willincrease in proportion to the movement of said film receiving memberswhen said film receiving members expand beyond a predetermined point andwill decrease when said film receiving members contract within saidpredeterminedpoint; and means for varying the predetermined points ofexpansion of said film receiving members.

21. A film handling device of the character described, including: aplurality of expansible film receiving members; film feeding means forfeeding a film into the first of said film receiving members; a filmmotivating means for each of said film receiving members, for takingsaid film from said film receiving members; and means controlled by theexpansion of said expansible members for gradually increasing ordecreasing the speed of said motivating means so that the speed of saidmotivating means will increase in proportion to the movement of saidfilm receiving members when said film receiving members expand beyond apredetermined point and will decrease when said film receiving memberscontract within said predetermined point.

22. A film handling device of the character described, including: wallsforming a space for a film treating fiuid; an expansible film. receivingmember in said space having a part moving in accordance with theexpansion of said expansible member; means for feeding a film to saidexpansiblemember at a prescribed rate of movement; removing means fortaking film from said expansible member; members forming an electriccircuit; electric current control means for said circuit connected to amovable part of said expansible member; and electrically operated drivemeans for said removing means, said electically operated drive meansbeing included in said electric circuit and being operated in responseto the amount of electric current passing through said electric circuit,as controlled by said electric circuit control means.

24. A motion picture film treating device of the character described,including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop offilm; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; apulley; a cable member extending from said expanding'means and beingconnected to said pulley so as to produce rotation thereof assaid'expanding means contracts and expands in accordance with the lengthof the loop of film formed thereby; switch actuating means connected tosaid pulley so as to be moved in response to thev rotation of saidpulley; and a regulating switch electrically connected with said motorand operated by said switch actuating means whereby to control saidmotor so as to propel said film-in such a manner that said expandingmeans will be maintained in a predetermined condition of expansion.

25. A motion picture film treating device of the character described,including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop offilm; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; apulley; a. cable member extending from said expanding means and beingconnected to said pulley so as to produce rotation thereof as saidexpanding means contracts and-expands in accordance with the length ofthe loop of film formed thereby; a drum secured to said pulley andhaving a switch operating cable wound thereover; and a switch having amoving pert connected to said switch operating cable, there beingadjustment means for varying the position of said moving part relativeto said pulley.

26. A motion picture film treating device of the character described,including: expanding means relatively movable for forming a loop offilm; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; apulley; cable extending over said pulley so as to rotate the same, theinner end of said cable being connected to said expanding means, and theouter end of said cable having a switch actuating part thereon; switchmeans having an operating element adapted to be engaged by said switchactuating part when such switch actuating part is raisedabove apredetermined position; switch actuating means connected to said pulleyso as be moved in response to the rotation of said pulley; and aregulating switch electrically connected-with said motor and operated bysaid switch actuating means whereby to control said motor so as topropel said film in such a manner that said expanding means will bemaintained in a predetermined condition of expansion.

27. A motion picture film treating device of the character described,including: expanding sneans relatively movable for forming a loop offilm; a motor; film moving means adapted to be driven by said motor; apulley; a cable extending over said pulley so as to rotate the same, theinner end of said cable being connected to said expanding means, and theouter end or said cable having a switch actuating part thereon: switchmeans having an operating element adapted to be engaged by said switchactuating part when such switch actuating part is raised above apredetermined position; a drum secured to said pulley and having aswitch operating cable woimd scribed, including: walls forming a filmtreating zone; an expansible film receiving member in said film treatingzone adapted to form a loop of film and to expand and contract inaccordance with the quantity of film therein; means for feeding a filmto said receiving member at a speed determined in accordance with thetreatment to be given said film; film take-oil means for removing filmfrom said receiving member; drive means for said take-oi! means; andcontrol means connected to said receiving member and functioning to varythe speed of said drive means in accordance with the expansion andcontraction of said receiving member so as to maintain a substantiallyconstant expansion oi! said film receiving member.

29. A film handling device 01' the character described, including: wallsforming a film treating zone; an expansible film receiving member insaid film treating zone adapted to form a loop of film and to expand andcontract in accordance with the quantity oi. film therein; means forfeeding a film to said receiving member; take-of! means for removingfilm from said receiving member; a mechanism for controlling the speedof one o! said means in accordance with the treatment to be given saidfilm while it is in said receiving member; and a control deviceconnected to said receiving member so as to be operated thereby, saidcontrol device varying the speed of said other 36 means in accordancewith the expansion and contraction of said receiving member in a mannerto maintain a substantially constant expansion of said receiving member.

